Gambia tightens border surveillance in wake of DRC Ebola outbreak

Janko Jimbara, the deputy permanent secretary at the ministry of health and focal person for West African Health Organisation, told Kerr Fatou the country is not leaving anything to chance.

Janko Jimbara, the deputy permanent secretary at the ministry of health and focal person for West African Health Organisation

Despite the distance between the Democratic Republic of Congo and The Gambia, the small country has increased border surveillances in the wake of the outbreak in DRC, top health ministry official told Kerr Fatou on Monday.

Janko Jimbara, the deputy permanent secretary at the ministry of health and focal person for West African Health Organisation, said though there is less likelihood that the outbreak may spread beyond DRC, they are not living anything to chance.

“We know what is happening in DR Congo and there are border surveillances… This is just to ensure that we are safe,” Jimbara said on the sidelines of the ongoing regional health ministers’ meeting in Banjul.

At the opening of the regional conference on Monday, discussions started within the various WAHO liaison officers in health ministries in member countries.

On Tuesday, health experts are expected to meet to discuss challenges of health in West Africa and discuss the way forward.

So the experts will come up with resolutions that will be adopted by state parties at the end of the conference.

Meanwhile, the director general of the West African Health Organization (WAHO) has also said that the regional organization has advised governments to intensify border surveillance following the outbreak in DRC.

WAHO is the regional agency tasked with responsibility of safeguarding the health of the people within the Economic Community of West African States.

Prof Stanley Okolo said the outbreak in DRC is a “wake-up call on all member countries to always remain alert and prepared”.

With a population of 350 million people, ministers of the regional bloc of 16 countries are currently in Banjul to discuss health challenges facing the region.

Okolo said WAHO is helping some of the countries in terms of support for monitoring travellers at “borders who are coming in from the DRC”.